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Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Hebrews 2:14
When we read this verse, we see that Satan has the power of death. This is far more than physical death. It’s spiritual death. It’s emotional death.
It’s this kind of death that keeps us from fulfilling our dreams. It’s just kind of death that keeps us from being victorious over the struggles in our life. It’s this kind of death that feeds our fears. It’s the kind of death that defines our doubt. Is this kind of death that keeps us from winning over worry.
When Jesus rose from the dead he defeated death at every level. Paul writes that because of Jesus’ resurrection the sting of death is gone. What he’s not saying here is that when a believer dies there is no pain. The pain of grief is real regardless of your faith. But when a believer dies we know we will be reunited some day and for all eternity.
By rising from the dead, Jesus offers us power over the death of our dreams, our relationships, and our ability to enjoy life in the present.
Our great enemy, Satan came to rob, steal, destroy…to bring death to us beyond the physical. He is intent on filling us with fear of the future to cripple us. His goal is to destroy our dreams of contentment. His purpose is to rob us of the joy Jesus died to give us.
Because of Jesus’ resurrection we can be victorious. Death has no power over us. Yet many who believe in Jesus still struggle with lost dreams and lost hopes. Claim the victory that Jesus bought for you on the cross every single day.
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10-11
A town close to mine, proudly holds the distinction of being the hometown of a famous professional football player. I know a few of his mutual friends, and because of that I have learned a lot about his growing up years, his personal life, and his faith.
I know a lot about him as well from press releases, and watching him play football. So, in some ways, I could say I know him.
On the other hand, I have a friend that I have known for over 50 years. I know him personally. I know much of his life story and his life struggles and his passions. We have personally walked through life tragedies together.
In one sense of the word, I know both of these men. But in another sense, my friend of over 50 years is somebody I know much deeper.
The same as true for Jesus. Knowing Jesus, in all of his power is different than knowing about Jesus. Knowing about Jesus is an intellectual experience that is often times a one time experience.
We can read stories about him, we can hear sermons about him, we can read books about him. We can be impressed with his teaching and his lifestyle.
But really knowing Jesus on a personal is a process. A process over time, a process of deepening relationship, a process of yielding more to Christ and less to our own passions.
Seek to know Jesus on a personal level. Ask him to reveal himself to you through his word, his Holy Spirit, and his church.
The more you truly know Jesus, the more you will experience his power, his peace, and his forgiveness.
For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
When God gave Moses the law, it was to show us as humans, the standards that we would need to keep to be holy and perfect before God.
There was no wavering in the law. There was no giving and taking. The standard was set, and if we did not meet the standard, we would be separated from God in this life and the next.
We would be without hope. We would never be in relationship with him.
While the law showed us God‘s holiness and standards, Jesus shows us God‘s character.
It’s almost as if God gave us the law to say here’s what I expect, and you will never be able to match that! Then he sent Jesus to say, here’s a better way.
His purpose was never to put us down. his purpose was never to destroy us. His purpose was never to make us struggle with our own thoughts and actions.
His purpose, was always to draw us closer to him. his purpose was always to give us a fulfillment and peace that nothing else could give us.
In Jesus, he gave us what we were never worthy of so that we could be what we could never achieve.
In those days when you pray, I will listen. Jeremiah 29:12
God’s word came to Jeremiah during a very difficult time in life of the Israelites.
They were abused, they were oppressed, they were under constant threat of attack.
Someday God would deliver them completely. But until then, he gives them a promise that he gives to us as well.
When we pray, he will listen.
God doesn’t listen the way some of us do. His listening isn’t surface level. His listening isn’t subject to distractions or circumstances.
When he listens to us, we have his undivided attention. It’s as if he looks into our eyes and sees clear through to our hearts.
That doesn’t mean he’ll remove the troubles. That doesn’t mean he’ll remove those enemies and obstacles that keep us awake at night. But it does mean he listens to us.
And sometimes we just need to be heard.
For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. 1 Corinthians 15:9
“I don’t deserve this.”
How many times do we hear that said, or maybe we’ve said that after we’ve been criticized or wrongfully accused. Maybe we’ve been judged unfairly for not meeting the expectations of others. Then there are the times when people play the comparison game, “Not bad, but sally does it better.”
Life is hard when it never seems like we can catch a break. If there was anyone who deserved to be scrutinized, the Apostle Paul was one.
He was a Pharisee, and likely had some part in the decision to murder Jesus. He gleefully watched the stoning of Stephen after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. He celebrated the persecution, imprisonment and physical beating each follower of ‘The Way’ received.
After his conversion to Jesus, Paul was called to preach this same Jesus that he’d ridiculed earlier. There were many who doubted him, right up until the day he died. Among other things, he was beaten, jailed, stoned and left for dead, and shipwrecked.
Paul could have said, ‘I don’t deserve all this! I’m the Apostle Paul after all. I was called by Jesus Himself. I’m important.” But he didn’t.
Instead Paul counted himself of being unworthy of any ministry at all because of his former life. The mistreatment he endured was nothing compared to what Jesus endured.
Jesus was completely innocent of any sin, yet rejected, abused and murdered. Elsewhere Paul says he would gladly go through abuse because of what Jesus endured for him.
None of us deserve to be mistreated on the physical plain, yet compared to God’s Holy standards, we all deserve so much more. We deserve death, but Jesus gives us life. We deserve punishment for our sins, but Jesus gives us forgiveness. We deserve poverty, Jesus provides from heavens storehouses.
I don’t deserve the abuse I get, but in reality, I deserve so much more! Thank you Jesus for sparing me from what I truly deserve.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 